The Vikings have more incentive to sell out the Metrodome in addition to avoiding a television blackout. Should their ticket revenues dip below a predetermined level this season, the Vikings will lose potentially millions of dollars in NFL revenue-sharing payouts.
League owners passed an enhanced plan this spring that called for the top 15 revenue-producing teams to contribute $110 million annually into a pot, which is then distributed to the lowest-revenue teams.
Because the Vikings' total revenue already ranks last among the NFL's 32 teams, they would be in line for the biggest payout -- anywhere from $5 million to $10 million. First, however, they would have to meet a series of criteria designed to ensure teams are maximizing their available resources before qualifying for league welfare.
Most notably, the Vikings' 2007 gate receipts must reach at least 90 percent of the league average this year. If not, their payout will decrease according to a complex formula designed by league financiers.
Earlier this week, team officials acknowledged they were 5,800 tickets short of a sellout for their Sept. 9 season opener against Atlanta. Those tickets must sell by noon Sept. 6 or the game will be blacked out in the Vikings' primary and secondary television markets.
Thousands of tickets remain for the Vikings' other seven home games. Exact figures were not available, but it is believed the team needs to sell out their season -- defined as 62,000 tickets per game -- in order to meet the 90 percent threshold.
A night off
Vikings coach Brad Childress had said starters would play only one series Thursday in the preseason finale, but five veterans didn't even see that much action. Running back Chester Taylor, defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams, middle linebacker E.J. Henderson and cornerback Antoine Winfield were in uniform but didn't play.
